Fundraising Articles

BY RACHEL JEFFERIES Image Caption: Mission Control Center During Apollo 13 Return Flight. Image Source: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/apollo/apollo13/gallery.html.   Last month marked the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 13 mission. You probably know the story: a relatively “straightforward” mission to begin with, but, at about three-quarters of the way to the moon, everything changes when an oxygen […]

I was reading a post by Rachel Muir, which inspired me, and I think it could be shared again and again.   Creating a culture of philanthropy is HARD work! It’s so easy for each team to focus solely on their own priorities and forget how they fit in with the rest of the organisation.  SAME TEAM, SAME MISSION  I find myself frequently using the phrase “same

Take every opportunity available to you to test ideas, propositions, plans and other fundraising communications with a selected group of donors. DONORS ARE UNPREDICTABLE Perhaps the most frequently repeated mistake that fundraisers make is not making sufficient time to just talk with donors to understand more about why they give and what their interests are.

When a vacant board member position for a nonprofit organisation is filled as a result of a current board member asking a colleague or friend, it can imply that the board did not adequately reflect on the needs of the organisation in order to move forward in a financial and philanthropic direction. It is better

There is an old fable that recounts a traveller coming upon three men labouring on a building site. As he walked from one to the next he asked each man what he was doing.‘I am laying bricks’ said the first. ‘I am making a wall’ said the second, but the third stood proudly and replied,

I often hear of workplaces laying off a noticeable amount of staff – I’ve seen it first-hand and I’ve even experienced it myself. It seems that those in leadership positions are more focused on the number of people, rather than on the personal strengths of individuals. However, I believe leadership to be the art of

Rule 6 presented criteria that fundraisers can use to judge the right time to ask, but getting the gift will take as long as it takes. This rule is about patience. THE JUDGEMENT PROCESS Oftentimes, board members, executives, and fundraisers can become impatient about closing a major gift. Each donor is different, and, on occasions,

When it comes to asking for a major gift, it can be difficult judging what precise amount to ask for. So what can you use as a guide? Think 2%. Essentially, this rule means that if you want to ask someone for a major gift, such as $1 million, then try to make sure you

Emotional Intelligence (Emotional Quota (EQ)) is the ability to recognise and manage your own — and other people’s — emotions. EQ is integral to the professional workplace, for it contributes to the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals and the collective mentality of the team. STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND REACTORS Know your strengths and weaknesses —

Judging the best conditions and asking properly is one rule. I believe that another part of the ask process requires its own rule. Asking for a major gift requires discipline around a very important moment in the process. That moment is the period of time just after the question. When the moment arrives you should